Doll Bones By: Holly Black

Doll Bones

By: Holly Black

Black, H., & Wheeler, E. (2013). Doll bones. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

2014 Newbery Honor Book

Award Link

Note: This award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Summary: Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever.  They love to play a continuous make believe story with their dolls that never ends from day to day.  They like to think that this eerie China Doll is the queen over all of their characters and decides the fate of each one.  One day Zach's dad forces him to quit playing dolls with the girls.  Zach is furious and upset.  Until one night when Poppy and Alice show up at Zachs. Poppys is convinced the eerie china doll is actually made from the bones of a murdered girl.  It has been haunting her dreams each night.  The three decide that they must return the china doll and bury her in her home town or they will be cursed for life and haunted by a ghost.  Do they make it?  Read the book and find out!

I started creating a book trailer for this story but then stumbled upon the one below.  I could not have created a trailer myself that so completely captured the creepiness of the story and the doll.  Thanks once again to Youtube!

The Nazi Hunters By: Neal Bascomb

The Nazi Hunters

By: Neal Bascomb

Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi hunters. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.

2014 Winner of the YASLA Excellence in Non-Fiction Award

Award Link

Note: This award honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.

Summary: This book tells the incredible events of what happened after Adolf Eichmann vanished in Germany, to his capture, and his trial.  Neil Bascomb draws us in and mesmerizes us with details of Eichmann's alias and his time spent in Argentina.  The photographs throughout the book bring further evidence into light and draw the reader even further into the mission.  

                                                       Check out the Book Trailer Below!
                                                Thanks to YouTube for providing a wonderful book trailer. 

The Watermelon Seed By: Greg Pizzoli

The Watermelon Seed

By: Greg Pizzoli

Pizzoli, G. (2013). The watermelon seed. New York: Disney Hyperion.

2014 Theodore Seuss Geisel Medal Winner

Note: This award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

Summary: Have you ever swallowed a watermelon seed?  In Greg Pizzoli's story a watermelon loving crocodile does just that.  He chomps away at a piece of watermelon and is thoroughly enjoying himself until he realizes he has swallowed a watermelon seed.  The crocodile begins nervous and believes he can feel the watermelon seed growing into a watermelon inside of him.  He vows never to eat another watermelon again until he lets out a large burp and the watermelon seed.  He looks at the watermelon and decides that one more bite can't hurt and begins to chomp away again at what he loves the most, watermelon!

Check out the book trailer below!

Mr. Wuffles! By: David Wiesner

Mr. Wuffles!

By: David Wiesner

Wiesner, D. (2013). Mr. Wuffles!. New York: Clarion Books.

2014 Caldecott Honor Book 

Award Link

Note: This award is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. 

Summary: Mr. Wuffles is a black cat who at moments seems arrogant and does not take any interest in all the toys his owner has bought for him to play with, except for a small metal object that turns out to be an alien spaceship.  Mr. Wuffles plays with the ship and ends up damaging it.  The aliens sneak out and get help from the insects in the house to help outwit Mr. Wuffles and repair their ship.  The aliens succeed in getting out of there and Mr. Wuffles is left bored again with only his other toys to play with.  David Wiesner creates a simple story but accentuates it with the use of a comic book design.  Their is hardly any dialogue except for the alien hieroglyphics. 

Activity: The most interesting aspect is that of the alien hieroglyphics.  The reader does not necessarily know what the aliens are saying and have to infer based on the illustrations that accompany each cell.  A great writing lesson with the students would be to have them rewrite each alien hieroglyphic with what they believe they would be saying.  This will require the students to analyze the illustrations and the expressions and actions of the aliens and the insects.  

P.S. Be Eleven By: Rita Williams

P.S. Be Eleven

By: Rita Williams

Williams-Garcia, R. (2013). P.S. Be Eleven. (1st ed.). New York City: Harper Collins.

2014 Author Winner for the Coretta Scott King Award

Note: This award is given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

Summary: This is the sequel to One Crazy Summer.  The Gaither sisters arrive back home and are jazzed up about having spent the summer with their mother and the Black Panthers.  They arrive home to find their father all giddy over his new girlfriend and their uncle Darnell is back from the war.  Delphine is the narrator of the story and takes us through her eleventh year of life and its ups and downs.  How she struggles with her uncle's PTSD, school and the dance, trying to stay in control of her younger sisters, and getting tickets to the Jackson Five.  As Delphine muddles and weaves through life she writes her mother for advice.  Her mother always responds back with the main point, be eleven while she can.

Rita Williams-Garcia is known for her realistic portrayal of teens of color.  She brings her own life experiences of the 60's to her novels.  Check out her other award winning and recognized books.

2003 Silver Kiss (Bologna Children’s Bookfair)
2003-4 Kentucky Blue Grass List
2003-4 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Master List
2002-3 Texas Library Assoc. YA Roundtable List
2002 ALA Best Books
2002 ALA Top 10 Best Books for Young Adults
2002 Children’s Literature Choice List
2002 New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner

2011 Newbery Honor Book

2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction

2010 National Book Award Finalist

National Book Award 2009 Finalist

LA Best Book of the Decade
1997 PEN\Norma Klein Honor
1997 Texas Library Assoc. YA Roundtable List
1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book
1995 Best Books – School Library Journal
1995 Best Books – Publishers Weekly
1995 Best Books – American Library Association
1995 Books Recommended for Reluctant Readers – ALA
1995 Horn Books Fanfare Award
1996 CBC Notable in the Field of Social Studies- NCSS

Flora and Ulysses By: Kate DiCamillo

Flora and Ulysses

By: Kate DiCamillo

DiCamillo, K. (2014). Flora & Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures.. New York: Paw Prints.

2014 Medal Winner for the Newbery Award

Award Link

Note: This award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Summary: Kate DiCamillo’s novel is fun and different. The characters are quirky and likeable, with the exception of Flora’s mother. Flora and William Spiver are the kids we see that could be said to have old souls hence the SAT style vocabulary they use consistently throughout the novel. George is a heartbroken man that doesn't seem to know where he belongs and Phyllis is so wrapped up in herself and her book writing that she doesn't notice life around her. All of these characters plus the addition of Tootie the next door neighbor and Dr. Meescham the odd neighbor to George keep the reader grounded to the text. The characters are all multi-layered, just like the ones you see in comic books. This is shown through Campbell’s pencil drawn comic panels. Each character shows up in a comic panel throughout the book and this gives them the “superhero” quality that will entice reluctant readers to make their way through a novel. Flora meets each one of these characters, with the exception of her parents, as she goes on a journey to find out who she is and where her home is.  All of this is done with a superhero squirrel!

Activity: One unique feature of this book is the fact that it is written partly as a graphic novel in a comic book style.  After reading this book have students select one of their writings to turn into a graphic novel.  Use the website ToonDoo to create comic strips of their writing.  This is a free website that will allow them multiple ways to create the comic strip.

Ball By: Mary Sullivan

Ball

By: Mary Sullivan

Sullivan, M. (2013). Ball. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt .

2014 Honor Book for the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award

Award Link

Note: This award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

Summary: Mans best friend is the center of this sweet and hopeful picture book.  The little girl in the family plays fetch with the family dog until she has to go to school.  Once she leaves the dog is desperate for someone to play fetch with him.  He tries mom and even the cat but nobody will play fetch.  He finally takes a nap and dreams of his ball.  Finally the little girl returns home from school and immediately plays fetch with the dog.  The illustrations are what make this story so sincere and relate-able.  The dog is drawn with so many facial expressions that his emotions shine through the page!

If you liked this book check out the two below:

One Came Home By: Amy Timberlake

One Came Home

By: Amy Timberlake

Timberlake, A., & Homer, D. (2013). One came home. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

2014 Newbery Honor Award
Award Link

Note: This award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Summary: It is 1871 and Georgie Burkhardt is a young teenage girl that is anything but typical in Wisconsin. Georgie opens her mouth and upsets her sister Agatha by ruining her engagement and this spurs Agatha to flee their Wisconsin town with a band of pigeoners.  The sheriff goes out to bring Agatha back but instead brings back an unidentifiable body.  Georgie does not believe that this is the body of her sister and in turn heads out herself to uncover the truth about Agatha.  Georgie runs into all kinds of trouble along her journey and even ends up shooting her gun.  Georgie does uncover the truth but I won't tell you here, read the book and find out!

Check out the Book Trailer Below!

Words with Wings by: Nikki Grimes

Words with Wings

By: Nikki Grimes

Grimes, N., & Grzeslo, B. (2013). Words with wings. Honesdale: WordSong.

2014 Author Honor Award for the Coretta Scott King Award

Note: This award is given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

Summary: Words with Wings begins with a young girl, Gabriella who is trying to cope with a new school, making friends, and her parents separation.  Her coping mechanism is her daydreaming.  She explains how just hearing a word can send her deep into daydream land.  Through the story Gabriella struggles to find her own voice and it is not until a special teacher and one new friend help her come together. This short but rather deep story is told through verse as a narrative poem.  It is with the fluid lines and beautifully strung together words that create the imagery that transports us into Gabriella's world.

Activity: This is an excellent book to use for writing class.  After reading the story lead your students in a discussion of how words can bring on all sorts of sensory language.  Demonstrate by writing a word on the board that means something to you.  For me I would pick coffee!  I would then write down all the things I think about when I hear the word coffee; smiles, laughter, cozy mornings on the porch, winter time, catching up with old friends, breakfast with my dad, richness, bold, etc....  After demonstrating have your students choose their own word and brainstorm.  When the brainstorms are complete you can then lead them in using the sensory language to create a narrative poem using short stanzas and lines, resembling Words with Wings.  When all are complete have students present and create a display for all staff and parents to come and enjoy.  

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote By: Duncan Tonatiuh

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote

By: Duncan Tonatiuh

Tonatiuh, D., & Middleton, M. T. (2013). Pancho Rabbit and the coyote: a migrant's tale. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

2014 Author Honor Book of the Pura Belpre Award

Award Link

Note: This award is given to Latin authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. 

Summary: A drought forces Papa Rabbit and two of his friends to leave the ranch and find work elsewhere.  After a few years Papa is supposed to return and they plan a huge celebration but Papa does not show up.  Everyone is worried but thinks he will make it by the next morning.  The oldest son Pancho left in search of his father.  A Coyote offers Pancho help to get to the ranch that Papa was working at.  Throughout their journey the coyote keeps demanding all of the food and drink that Pancho had packed for his father.  When Pancho runs out of food and drink the coyote tries to eat Pancho.  In just the nick of time Papa Rabbit bursts through the door and saves his son.  They all return to the ranch the next day and celebrate. 

If you enjoy this book check out the following stories that also deal with the theme of immigration.

Flora and the Flamingo By: Molly Idle

Flora and the Flamingo

By: Molly Idle

Idle, M. S. (2013). Flora and the flamingo. San Francisco, Calif.: Chronicle Books.

2014 Caldecott Honor Book

Award Link

Note: This award is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Summary: In this wordless story you follow a curious little girl, Flora as she follows and mimics a flamingo.  The flamingo does not seem to care too much for Flora and her antics.  At one point the Flamingo startles Flora and she tumbles backwards.  This hurts Flora's feelings and the flamingo makes it up to her.  They continue the rest of the story dancing from page to page.  This is a simple by endearing book and is told through soft pastel water colors.  Check out the book trailer below!  I could not have created a better one. Thank you to YouTube for allowing me to share this trailer. 

Nino Wrestles the World By: Yuyi Morales

Nino Wrestles the WorldBy: Yuyi Morales

Morales, Y. (2013). Niño wrestles the world. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

2014 Illustrator Award Winner of the Pura Belpre Award

Award Link

Note: This award is given to a latin writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Summary: This is a wonderfully silly tale of a little boy who is pretending to be a luchadore (mexican wrestler).  At every page turn he encounters a different opponent from a scary mummy to an alien.  The story comes to a close as his toughest opponents wake up, his little sisters!

Activity: This story is great to use and teach about Mexican traditions.  What kid doesn't imagine being a superhero at one point or another. Luchadores are not superheroes but they let you take on a seperate identity.  For a creative and fun activity have your students create their own Luchadore mask.  Once they have created their masks help students name their Luchadore identity and explain why they would pick that name.  

Penny and Her Marble by: Kevin Henkes

Penny and Her Marble

By: Kevin Henkes

Henkes, K. (2013). Penny and her marble. New York: Greenwillow Books.

2014 Honor Book for the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award

Link to Award

Note: This award to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

Summary: Penny and her Marble is a sweet story for young beginner readers.  Penny is busy taking her doll on a walk when she spots a shiny blue marble in her neighbors yard.  Penny picks up the marble and takes it home.  She loves the marble, but begins to worry that the marble actually belongs to her neighbor.  As the story continues Penny's worry increases and she can't eat, make cookies, and even sleep.  The next morning Penny knows what she has to do and returns to her neighbors yard and puts the marble back.  As Penny is leaving her neighbor tells her that she put the marble there so someone would find it and take it home.  Penny is relieved and glad to have the marble back.

Activity: This story is great to use when teaching students the basics of cause and effect. It also provides a fantastic lesson for the students to learn.  Using chart paper and making a diagram as you discuss with the class is one of the best ways to utilize the book.

1. Ask your students what was causing Penny so much trouble. (Taking the marble home)  Record their answer at the top of the chart paper.

2. Now ask them what happened to Penny after she took the marble. (didn't feel good, could not enjoy helping her mother bake cookies, could not eat dinner, could not sleep, had bad dreams)  Record each answer by placing it under the first response and connecting them with an arrow.

3. Now label the first response with the word cause and label each of the other responses with effect.

4. After discussion students will write their own cause and effect chart.

"The President has been Shot!" The Assassination of John F. Kennedy By: James L. Swanson

"The President has been Shot!" The Assassination of John F. Kennedy

By: James L. Swanson

Swanson, J. L. (2013). "The President has been shot": the assassination of John F. Kennedy. New York : Scholastic.

2014 Finalist for the YASLA Excellence in Nonfiction

YASLA Award Link

2014 YASLA Winner Announcement

Note: This award honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults.

Summary: James Swanson takes you back with detailed historical accuracy to the beginning of John F. Kenned's political career. You embark on a journey through the youngest president in history's election and inauguration; detailing how JFK dealt with the failed Bay of Pigs, Cuba Invasion, prevented a Russian Missile Attack, made landing on the moon possible, Nuclear test ban treaty, and his fight against communism and racial inequality.  Swanson then switches back and forth between JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald (the man who shot JFK) actions the few days before the assassination and the days following.  Swanson enlightens us with the numerous coincidences that lead to Oswald being able to carry out his assassination plan, such as Oswald taking a job at the book depository just a short time before the decision that the President would travel to Texas and follow a route that would take him past the book depository.  There is no sugar coating to the gory details and spends time connecting us to Jackie Kennedy's emotional roller-coaster that left her scared for life.  The novel is written with a sense of urgency and is depicted through Swanson's words and archival black and white photographs, diagrams, source notes, and a bibliography.

  Check out the book trailer!

Locomotive By: Brian Floca

Locomotive

By: Brian Floca

2014 Honor Book for the Robert F. Sibert Award

Sibert Award Link

2014 Caldecott Award Winner

Caldecott Award Link

Note: The Caldecott award is given each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. 

Summary: Locomotive begins in the year of 1869 and details a persons journey on that of a train! As you take the ride, Brian Floca makes the trip come alive by detailing the sounds, the speed, the work it takes to keep the train moving, and the strength of the train and crew.  The story is filled with alliteration and onomatopoeia that make your senses come alive. 

Illustrations: Floca creates beautiful illustrations using watercolor, ink, and acrylic.  The colors are subdued almost muted browns, tans, and earthy tones.  Floca uses a variety of views in his illustrations from up close details to vignettes of the stopping points on the journey.  What I found most exquisite were the end papers detailing exactly how a steam engine looked and the map of the train route. 

Floca, B. (2013). Locomotive. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Books with Similar Themes

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Parrots Over Puerto Rico

Parrots Over Puerto Rico

By: Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore

2014 Medal Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Award

Note: The Sibert Award is given to authors and illustrators that are the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in the previous year.

Sibert Award Link

Summary: High in the treetops over Puerto Rico fly brilliant emerald parrots.  These Puerto Rican parrots have lived in Puerto Rico for millions of years.  Over many years settlers, explorers, and developers came to the island and do what they do best.... ruined habitats, captured the parrots, and simply made these majestic parrots begin to fade away.  By 1960 the Puerto Rican Parrot was almost extinct.  As we learn about Puerto Rico's history we see how scientists slowly and amazingly recovered the Puerto Rican Parrots. 

Illustrations: With a children's informational book the illustrations are a must and one of the most important elements especially if the book is used as a read aloud as this one definitely would be.  Susan Roth creates the illustrations using a fabric and paper collage method. The book is turned sideways and becomes vertical. This allows Roth to do almost a double page layout for her illustrations.  The verticalness of the book gives the illustrations depth and layers of grass, trees, and lushness.  It feels like a true rain forest canopy.  

Roth, S. L., & Trumbore, C. (2013). Parrots over Puerto Rico. New York: LEE and LOW Books Inc.

Lesson Plan Idea: 

      1. Read Parrots over Puerto Rico out loud to the class.

      2. Create a class timeline of the parrots drop in population to their increase.

      3. Discuss the illustrations and the collage technique

      4. Have students chose one animal that is on the endangered list. They will find at least 5 facts                   about that animal.

      5. Once they have their facts they will create a "Save the ?" poster for their animal.  

      6. The illustration of the animal must be done using the collage technique of paper and fabric that                Roth used in Parrots over Puerto Rico.

Sex & Violence By: Carrie Mesrobian

Sex & Violence

By: Carrie Mesrobian

2014 William C. Morris Finalist

Morris Award Link

Summary: It is always tough to be the new kid and Evan Carter is ALWAYS the new kid.  His mother is long since dead and his fathers job moves them from place to place so Evan bounces from school to school.  The one thing Evan can always count on is always having enough girls to hook up with without the worry of them or him getting too attached.  Until Evan makes the wrong choice and finds himself waking up in the hospital damaged, broken, and bleeding with a pain running through his soul as he thinks of the girl and her condition.  From here Evans non existent father takes him to his hometown, Pearl Lake.  It is here that with the help of the lake, his father, the hodge-podge of quirky friends, and himself that Evan begins to find peace and untangle the web of sex and violence. 

Mesrobian, C. (2013). Sex & violence: a novel. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, INC.

Books with Similar Themes

  “And then their voices stopped and their souls stood still and they ceased being who they had been. Because who they were had always been determined by him.” 

― Melina Marchetta, On the Jellicoe Road       

                                      

“Mrs. Leene says I should think about people in the present tense. It forces you to take responsibility for them,” she says.” ― Adam Rapp, Under the Wolf, Under the Dog

"Imagine your father is a monster. Would that mean there are monsters inside you, too?" 

- Daniel Kraus, Scowler

"Who do you blame?" -Christa Desir, Fault Line